Ventilation louver grills

ABSTRACT

Ventilation louver grills are disclosed in which a frame is provided with one half of a friction lock mechanism formed adjacent to an air flow opening, and the other half of the friction lock mechanism is formed on a louver means so that the louvers may be easily assembled to the frame.

Elnite States Patent 11 Goettel 1 1 May 15,1973

54] VENTILATION LOUVER GRILLs [76] Inventor: Robert J. Goettel, 7824 North 36th Drive, Phoenix, Ariz. 85021 [22] Filed: A'ug..l3, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 63,393

[52] U.S. Cl. ..92/42, 98/66, 98/121 [51] Int. Cl. ..F24f 7/00 [58] Field of Search ..98/6l, 62, 64, 66,

98/121 R, 37, DIG. 6, 42,114,121 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,722,170 11/1955 Broberg ,.98/114 3,601,034 8/1971 Thorneu... 2,692,548 10/1954 Knorr ..98/121 R 2,826,221 3/1958 Speiser ..98/l21 R 2,972,358 2/1961 Hinden... ..98/121 R 2,988,983 6/1961 Davis ..98/l21 R 2,939,375 6/1960 Herman... ..98/37 3,011,422 12/1961 Scallon 98/121 R 3,083,633 4/1963 Hochberg ..98/42 3,426,668 2/1969 Hofmeister ..98/l21 R Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin A ttorney- Herbert E. Haynes, .I r.

[57] ABSTRACT Ventilation louver grills are disclosed in which a frame is provided with one half of a friction lock mechanism formed adjacent to an air flow opening, and the other half of the friction lock mechanism is formed on a louver means so that the louvers may be easily assembled to the frame.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENHZU 3,732,800

SHEET 2 BF 2 Q1213: 5 205527 J bfrra AGE/VT VENTILATION LOUVER GRILLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to ventilation louver'grills and more particularly to ventilation louver grills for use in areas where low-flow circulation is desired.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the building construction arts, ventilation-louver grills such as dormer vents, gable louvers and the like are employed in roof areas of a building to provide a baffle against the elements and yet permit air circulation in the attic area.

Traditionally these types of louver grills are formed of galvanized sheet metal which is fabricated into the desired configuration by methods well known in the art. When the necessary parts such as the housing louvers, hardware cloth and molding pieces have been formed, the parts are assembled and spot welded into the finished product.

This assembly method is time-consuming and expensive due to the fact that the individual louvers must be positioned and held either by handor with the aid of a jig until the welds can be made. Welding of the louvers, hardware cloth and molding pieces requires that the welder reposition the housing for each weld.

Another problem exists in that each time a weld is made the galvanized coating is broken exposing the surface of the metal to oxidation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed new and useful ventilation louver grills and a method of making them is provided in which the grill housings are formed with the female portions of friction-locking devices, and the relatively small parts such as the louvers and molding pieces are formed with the male portions of the friction-locking devices. This arrangement allows the small parts to be assembled to the housing without the need for laborious handling, jigs, and also eliminates many of the spot welds.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new and useful ventilation louver grills for use in ventilating under roof areas of a building.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and useful method of manufacturing ventilation louver grills.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and useful ventilation louver grills in which the louvers are assembled to the grill housing with friction-locking devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of manufacturing ventilation louver grills in which the louvers and molding pieces are assembled with friction-locking devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and useful dormer vent in which the louvers are assembled to a subframe and the frame is frictionally retained within the air circulation opening of the housing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful gable louver in which the louvers are assembled to the frame and crimped in place.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the various features thereof as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an exploded isometric view of a dormer vent illustrating the features of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the dormer vent shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view ofa gable louver illustrating the features of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT surface of a roof to provide ventilation to the area under the roof. These vents are manufactured in a variety of sizes and shapes and are made to match the slope or pitch of the roof; therefore, it is not intended that this invention be limited to the exact configuration illustrated.

The dormer vent 10 comprises a housing 12 having a roof engaging base 14 which is formed of side flanges l6 and 18, rear flange and front flange 22. The flanges 16, 18, 20, and 22 are positioned to circumscribe a lower air opening 24 of vent 10.

Formed integral with base 14 is an air flow enclosure 26 which comprises two spaced apart triangularly shaped side members or walls 28 and 30 and a top or roof member 32.

As best seen in FIG. 1, side walls 28 and 30 and roof 32 are formed so that enclosure 26 slopes angularly up To prevent foreign elements such as wind-blown debris, rain, snow and the like from entering into the air flow passage 42, a louver means 44 is installed within upper air opening 40 as will be described in detail.

The louver means 44 comprises an inverted substantially U-shaped subframe 46 formed into a right angle member as best seen in FIG. 3. A plurality of louvers 48 are angularly disposed and attached to subframe 46 by conventional methods such as spot welding. Each louver 48 is formed with a forward downwardly depending lip 50 which is welded to the frame 46, and a rear upwardly disposed lip 51 to which a piece of screen 52 or hardware cloth is suitably attached.

Assembly of the louver means 44 within the air flow passage 42 is accomplished by bringing subframe 46 into contiguous engagement with the side walls and roof of air flow enclosure 26. The louver means 44 is retained therein by friction locking means 54 such as that shown in FIG. 3. As shown, a female member or I roof 32 of enclosure 26. The female member 56 is formed by bending the material of the walls and roof into a substantially S-shaped configuration to provide a gripping edge. 58. A plurality of male locking members 60 are spacedly formed in subframe 46 of louver assembly 44. Each of the male members 60 are stamped or otherwise formed to provide a dimpled edge 62 which engages gripping edge 58 of female member 56.

Another embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4, and 6. In these latter figs there is shown one configuration of a wall louver or vent 64 or as sometimes referred to a gable louver. It is not intended that this embodiment be limited by the term gable, as this type of vent is suitable for other areas of installation such as a'cupola and the like,

The gable vent 64, as best seen in FIG. 4, comprises a rectangular base or frame 66 having spaced apart side members 68 and 70, top member 72 and bottom member 74. These side, top and bottom members circum scribe an air flow passage 76 inwhich a plurality of elongated louvers 78 are installed.

The louvers 78 are formed similar to the hereinbefore described louvers 48 in that they are provided with downwardly depending frontlips 80 and upstanding. rear lips 82, and are angularly disposed within-the air flow passage 76.

Assembly of louvers 78 within passage 76 is accomplished by positioning the louvers so that their side edges 90 are in contiguous engagement with side members .68 and -70 where they are retained by frictional locking members 84. Locking means 84 comprises dimples 86 or detents spacedly arranged in side members 68 and 70. Each dimple 86 is provided with a slot 88 into which the edges 90 of louvers 78 areinserted and crimped or otherwise deformed as best seen in FIG. 6.

Gable louvers of this type are installed in openings within walls as hereinbefore described and to provide covering for the unsightly gaps which exist between the wall opening and the gable louver, molding pieces 92 are provided. Assembly of molding pieces 92 is accomplished by employing locking means 54 as previously described with reference to dormer vent 10.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in the preferred embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, and materials used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operating requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace any such modifications within the limits only of the true scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A ventilation louver grill in the form of a dormer vent which comprises:'

a. a base adapted for engaging the roof of a building,

said base circumscribing a lower air opening;

b. an air flow enclosure formed integral with said base, said air flow enclosure having upstanding spaced apart side walls connected at their top portions with a roof, the side walls and roof having forwardly extending edges which cooperate with said base to circumscribe an upper air opening;

c. a substantially S-shaped female gripping member formed in each of the forwardly extending edges of the roof and side walls of said air flow enclosure;

and

d. louver means positioned within the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure for preventing the entry of foreign elements therein, said louver means adapted to interlockingly engage said female gripping members for affixing said louver means within the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure.

2. A louver grill as claimed in claim 1 wherein said I louver means comprises:

a. a subframe formed substantially in a U-shaped configuration for contiguous engagement within the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure, said subframe having a plurality of male gripping members formed .in spaced intervals on the periphany thereof for engaging said female gripping members; and

'b.-a plurality of louvers downwardly disposed within 8 said subframe and fixedly attached thereto.

3. A ventilation louver grill in the form of a gable vent which comprises:

a. a frame having spaced apart side walls connected at their upper ends with a top member and at their lower ends with a bottom member, the side walls, top and bottom members circumscribing an air flow passage;

b. a plurality of louvers spacedly arranged within the airflow passage of said frame and positioned so that the opposite ends of each of said louvers engage opposite ones of the side walls;

c. a plurality of spacedly arranged dimples formed in the spaced apart side walls of said frame, each of said dimples having a slot formed therein for receiving and frictionally holding the end of one of said plurality of louvers; and

d. a substantially S-shaped female gripping member formed in one edge of each of the side walls and top of said frame for receiving and frictionally retaining at least one molding piece.

4. A ventilation louver grill in the form'of vent comprising:

a. a base for engaging the roof of a building, said base circumscribing a lower air opening;

b. an air flow enclosure formed integral with said base and having spaced apart side walls connected at their top portions with a roof, the side walls. and the roof having forwardly extending edges which cooperate with said base to circumscribe an upper an opening; I louver means positioned within the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure'fo'r preventing entry of foreign elements therein, said louver means including a plurality of louver slats fixedly attached within a sub-frame the periphery of which contiguously engages the forwardly extending edges which circumscribe the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure; and I d. friction locking means including a substantially S- shaped female gripping member formed in each of --the forwardly extending edges of said air flow enclosure and including male gripping members stamped at spaced intervals in the periphery of the sub-frame of said louver means, the female and male gripping members being disposed for interlockingly engaging each other for frictionally locking said louver means within the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure.

a dormer 

1. A ventilation louver grill in the form of a dormer vent which comprises: a. a base adapted for engaging the roof of a building, said base circumscribing a lower air opening; b. an air flow enclosure formed integral with said base, said air flow enclosure having upstanding spaced apart side walls connected at their top portions with a roof, the side walls and roof having forwardly extending edges which cooperate with said base to circumscribe an upper air opening; c. a substantially S-shaped female gripping member formed in each of the forwardly extending edges of the roof and side walls of said air flow enclosure; and d. louver means positioned within the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure for preventing the entry of foreign elements therein, said louver means adapted to interlockingly engage said female gripping members for affixing said louver means within the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure.
 2. A louver grill as claimed in claim 1 wherein said louver means comprises: a. a subframe formed substantially in a U-shaped configuration for contiguous engagement within the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure, said subframe having a plurality of male gripping members formed in spaced intervals on the periphary thereof for engaging said female gripping members; and b. a plurality of louvers downwardly disposed within said subframe and fixedly attached thereto.
 3. A ventilation louver grill in the form of a gable vent which comprises: a. a frame having spaced apart side walls connected at their upper ends with a top member and at their lower ends with a bottom member, the side walls, top and bottom members circumscribing an air flow passage; b. a plurality of louvers spacedly arranged within the air flow passage of said frame and positioned so that the opposite ends of each of said louvers engage opposite oneS of the side walls; c. a plurality of spacedly arranged dimples formed in the spaced apart side walls of said frame, each of said dimples having a slot formed therein for receiving and frictionally holding the end of one of said plurality of louvers; and d. a substantially S-shaped female gripping member formed in one edge of each of the side walls and top of said frame for receiving and frictionally retaining at least one molding piece.
 4. A ventilation louver grill in the form of a dormer vent comprising: a. a base for engaging the roof of a building, said base circumscribing a lower air opening; b. an air flow enclosure formed integral with said base and having spaced apart side walls connected at their top portions with a roof, the side walls and the roof having forwardly extending edges which cooperate with said base to circumscribe an upper air opening; c. louver means positioned within the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure for preventing entry of foreign elements therein, said louver means including a plurality of louver slats fixedly attached within a sub-frame the periphery of which contiguously engages the forwardly extending edges which circumscribe the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure; and d. friction locking means including a substantially S-shaped female gripping member formed in each of the forwardly extending edges of said air flow enclosure and including male gripping members stamped at spaced intervals in the periphery of the sub-frame of said louver means, the female and male gripping members being disposed for interlockingly engaging each other for frictionally locking said louver means within the upper air opening of said air flow enclosure. 